Bargello top completed

After 3.5 years I have finally completed my bargello top. The reason for the delay was because of three underlying factors:
1.     I didn't follow my instructions properly.
2.     I ran out of base fabric and had to order via an America site.
3.     Motivation was zip at the end.

So I guess the moral of the story is, read your instructions twice, even three times; measure twice and cut once and for the motivation put on some zippity-do-dah music to crank things up!

On completing I sang (badly) the tune below a couple of times, because quite proudly, I was full of joy :)

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
   God of glory, Lord of love;
   Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
   Op’ning to the sun above.
   Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
   Drive the dark of doubt away;
   Giver of immortal gladness,
   Fill us with the light of day!

1. 
   
2. 
   

First time quilting

So, here is my beginners attempt at quilting. I went to two, three hour classes on the basics of quilting. The teacher was so great, Jan from Culverden. She basically let us loose on our sample 12" squares and let rip. Naturally for starters I began small and very slow, but as the day progressed I got a bit bigger with curls and swirls, but it was hard to let loose. It's only now when I look at a quilt I can actually appreciate the art of the quilting and imagination, flair and talent that goes into completing such masterpieces. I can only admire from afar. Let the good times roll!

Blog neglect, oops

Sometimes in life you get so busy creating you forget that you also have a blog to write up every now and then.... So here I am watching 'One born every minute' and listening to one of the cats snoring! This is just to let you know I have not stopped my blogging, but need a huge neon coloured pink post-it note saying "blog now!". More soon.

Free motion quilting

I've been patchworking and quilting (I use the word loosely) for just on four years now and I'm ashamed to admit that I had my first go at free motion quilting at my Wednesday classes only two weeks ago....

I had to borrow a friend's free motion foot as I realised my Janome did not come with the required footer. Next stop: Art of Sewing, Riccarton, to put in an order for one! I had no idea what the term "dogs" were until now, duh!

So, for my appliqued chickens on my lap quilt I have ironed on a few, but they will have to wait for my purchased footer. I took up sizing up my scraps at last week's session. You know, that really boring task you know you need to do, but for the life of you, you can't be bothered until it's too late.... and you really need 152 strips of blue or whatever!

Little black hen

Little brown hens, legs yet to be stitched

 My latest fabric purchases

Purchased at Away with the Fairys, Cust

 

Purchased at Cottonfields, Christchurch

The beautiful Hurunui - my home

State Highway 1 leaving Amberley

 

Back of Culverden, Kaiwara Road

Follows a long, winding metal road

Past the Greta Valley

 

Homeward bound through the Waipara vineyards

New fabric + my home town

I couldn't resist buying this interesting fabric... I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I couldn't leave it in the shop!!

Now for some un-quilting stuff. Christchurch as it was in November 2011.

This building is no more...

Shipping containers come in handy

People are walking where buildings used to be

Re: Start Mall, Cashel Street

Time stood still... 12.51

Day trip to.... Ashburton lakes

Yes, it is hard to imagine that there is more to life than quilting, but...

Day trips are wonderful things. Here are some shots to inspire you to visit the Ashburton Lakes.

At the turnoff heading towards the lakes

Metal roads

Lake Clearwater

These sailboarders were speeding along at about 70km...

Chicken run

Finally I began my chicken quilt. The first sewing group of the year was Wednesday 22 January and thus I began to sew again after the lovely Christmas/New Year break. Sometimes it is nice to have a break away from patching just to come back with a fresh mind and sewing fingers!

Chicken wire sewed on ready for rows

I chose a dark brown chicken wire fabric for my sashing inbetween the blocks, very simple, but that is what I wanted. Basically my plan is in my head and I am stitching as I go along. I firstly made a plan in my book to see how the general layout would be like and away I went.

I have sewed all the blocks together and the sashings. Thus the next step is to sew the rows together.

Placement for sewing